Tom Waits “Blue Valentine”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Tom Waits, “Blue Valentine.”

What a piece of music this one is. I just love Tom Waits. This is yet another example of the album I love is the tour I saw.

I can’t remember the name of the place. But there was a little roadhouse between Merrillville + Valparaiso, Indiana where I saw this tour. It had to be in 1978 or ‘79. The opening act was Leon Redbone who had laryngitis that night and did everything instrumental. He then held up a ‘thank you’ sign after every song.

TW does an amazing version of ‘Somewhere” from West Side Story as an opening number on this album. It’s truly a remarkable version.

Other highlights include ‘Red Shoes By the Drugstore, Whistlin’ by the Graveyard, Romeo is Bleeding, $29’ and of course, ‘Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis.’

His concert from this tour was just as strong. It’s hard to remember much of it. I do know that he opened the show leaning against a gas pump smoking a cigarette. I’ve actually seen this tour on Austin City Limits if you can catch it.